Improvement in metallic cartridges



TIMOTHY J. POWERS, OF 4NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT EN METALLIC QARTRIDGEES.

f Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,094, dated J une20, 1871.

To all whom 'it may eoncerm Beit known that I, TIMOTHY J. POWERS,

of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Center-FireCartridge-Cases, of which the following vis a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming part thereof, in which-Figure I is a view, partly in section,of a cartridgecase completelyprimed embodying my invention. Fig. Il is a butt-end view of the same.Fig. III .is a view, partly in section, of a' cartridge-case prepared toreceive the priming. Fig. IV is. a central sectional view of the flangedcup or tube to be inserted in the butt of the cartridge-case for holdingthe percussion-cap that forms the priming. Fig. Vis an end view of thesame.-

My invention consists innpiereing the butt of the cartridge-case for theadmission of the priming devices, and carrying a portion of the metal ofthe -butt inward so as to form an annular or tube-like/projection, theninserting into this opening a iianged cup or tube, the ange restingagainst the outerA surface of the butt, and the body being tightlyencircled by the annular projection on the butt thus seeming the saidcup in position,an forming avery complete jgas-cheek', and theninserting into this short ftube a percussioncap having in it a suitableanvil on which to explode the cap.

A is a metallic-cartridge case, made in the ordinary manner. a isV anannular or short tube, projecting inward around the orifice c, madeinthe butt of the case. b is a primingholder, being a small cup struckor drawn up out of either a circular or star-shaped piece of metalplate, the rim being turned outward at right angles with the body,forming a ilange, e. 1t is made to dt snugly into the orifice e in thebutt of the case, the dange e resting against the outer surface of thebutt, which is bent inward around the orifice c to receive it, so thatthe rear of the butt with the flange c of the priming-holder b shallpresent a smooth surface. A small hole, one or more, is made through thebottom of the primingholder, to permit the iire from the priming tocommunicated to the gunpowder within the case. d is an ordinarypercussion-cap, containing a suitable anvil, t, to explode the cap, oneend or edge of which touches the priming of the cap, and the other isflush with the open end of the cap. This cap is forced tightly into thepriming-holder b, the open end with the anvil resting down against itsclosed end. After the priming-holder b is inserted into the orifice c,the annular flange a should, by a suitable die-punch, be placed withinthe pase, having in its end a counter-sink fitted to receive and holdthe ange a, and a small punch forced into the orice c be closed intightly around the body of the priming-holder.

When this operation is properly performed the flange or tube a and-thebody of the priming-bolder b may be so closely and firmly unitedtogether asto constitute them a perfect gas-cheek, preventing all escapeof gas between them.

The gas generated by firing the powderI in the cartridge, pressing uponthe outside of the flange a, tends to close the flange more tightly inupon the body of the priming-holder b, and necessarily obviates allescape of gas.

The percussion cap may be readily removed after firing, as is evident,and another inserted; and I have often reloaded and fired one of thesecartridges forty or fty times Without destroying or indeed injuring thecase.

4 l am aware that the use of the flanged cup or tube b for holding apercussion-cap as a priming iu the butt of a cartridge-case is not new;but whenever it has been heretofore used, so far as I know, the orificein the butt of the case made to receive it has been formed by removingthe metal at the opening, making a straight 'clean eut through themetal, and without turning any of it inward to form a support or agas-check around the body of the cup. The result has been ,thatf fromcartridges primed in this manner there is so large an escape of gas uponfiring them that they are practically worthless unless the butt isfilled in and made tight by paper or some equivalent substance pressedinto them. I do not, therefore, claim broadly the priming of a cart-Vridge by means of a percussion-cap held within the cup b in the butt ofthe case; position and a gas-tight connection e'eeted, but as set forth.What I do claim is- T. J. POWERS. The combination and relativearrangement herein shown and described, of the interna Witnesses: ange aand cappocket 0r battery-cup b, J. P. FITCH, whereby the saidbattery-cup is secured in GEO. GOTT.

